Event Permits And Regulations

In late 2023, Amsterdam introduced a 30 km/h limit. A large number of arterials were lowered from 50 km/h, 4,500 signs installed, 140 lights reconfigured, and 200 km of markings adjusted. Aiming to improve safety, liveability and accessibility, 80% of the road network is now at this critical speed. The effects of this measure were monitored before and after its implementation. Six topics were considered: 1️⃣ Road safety: On the 30 km/h roads, there were 11% fewer collisions involving a car, 15% fewer collisions involving a pedestrian or cyclist, and 24% fewer collisions involving a tram or bus. 2️⃣ Liveability: Noise pollution dropped by 1.5 decibels, or 5.5% on the logarithmic scale. Researchers observed an increase in social interactions at street level. 3️⃣ Speeds: Overall speeds decreased by 8%, with a 63% limit compliance rate. There was an 80% reduction in severe speeding (over 55 km/h). 4️⃣ Travel times: There was no measurable effect on emergency service response times. An average car journey experienced 30 seconds of delay. 5️⃣ Traffic volume: Despite 1% population growth, car traffic and air pollution remained unchanged. 6️⃣ Support: 60% of residents were very positive of the measure. One year since its introduction, figures show the stated goals behind Amsterdam's 30 km/h measure are trending in the right direction, and concerns of negative impacts are unwarranted. This aligns with—and adds to—the growing body of evidence that other global cities should consider a similar move.

If you’re new to the complexities of color accessibility standards — like I was at the start of this project — here’s a distilled cheat sheet that can help you make the most of our new tool in Figma. We know this can be a bit daunting at first, so we put a lot of care into this feature, trying to make it as simple as possible for you. Whether you’re brand new to this concept, or a seasoned a11y pro, you can start leveraging this right away. Here are the basics: → Strong color contrast makes your designs more inclusive by improving readability for users with visual impairments. → A contrast ratio is simply the foreground compared to the background, the higher the number, the higher the contrast, the more inclusive it is. This ratio is automatically calculated in real-time and displayed in the top left corner of the color picker. → We built everything using the WCAG 2.2 standard, which is widely accepted and most commonly used. That standard has categories and levels defined, which are available to you in the settings menu. → Figma will automatically detect the appropriate category of the layer you have selected, but you can override this if you need to from the settings menu. → Level AA is good for most projects, and is the Figma default. → Level AAA is considered above and beyond, and is good for projects that have enhanced needs. → Large text is considered at least 24px or Bold 19px. → Normal text is considered below 24px or Bold 19px. → Graphics are considered icons, controls, and other elements that have meaning. (BTW Level AAA does not exist for this category, so if you see your level changing on you, this is probably why.) → You’ll see AA or AAA in the top right corner, alongside a pass/fail icon. This is your stable place to find the status at any point. → You’ll see a pass/fail boundary line on the color spectrum, use this as a visual aid to choose a color that meets your goals. → You’ll also see a dotted pattern on the color spectrum, this is the fail zone. If your color is in this area, you can click on the fail indicator in the top right corner to auto-correct it to the nearest passing color. → If you need to know the background color that was auto-detected, click the contrast ratio in the top left corner to open a flyout with more color info. We blend together any transparent background elements as well, so this value may be technically undefined in your file, but we’ve done it this way to be as accurate as possible to what you see on the canvas. → In more complex layer structures (such as overlapping elements), or complex color scenarios (such as multiple colors, gradients, or images), the calculations may not be possible. If you find that’s the case for your design, we recommend duplicating and isolating the foreground and background elements you want to evaluate onto a clean part of the canvas. Let us know if you have questions, and happy contrasting!

The management of air quality in Paris has become a global model. The capital has been transformed from a "red cyclone" of poor air in 2007 to a city where it is noticeably cleaner. Pollutant emissions in Paris have dropped by 40% in just 10 years. Why and how was this done? In fact, since 2000, 5 million people in Europe have died due to fine particulate pollution. Personally, I used to get asthma every summer as a kid living in the Parisian suburb and when I was studying in Paris. I was often told it was all in my head. I moved out and it stopped 🤷♂️ 🤦 Air quality management isn’t some "eco-hipster ideology" as it’s often dismissed; it’s a collective responsibility towards the climate and a pressing public health issue. What measures have been implemented across Greater Paris over the past 15 years? ➡️ 170,000 trees planted by the end of this year ➡️ 300 hectares of new green spaces ➡️ Creation of 1,400 km of bike paths and cycling infrastructure. ➡️ Establishment of low-emission zones. ➡️ Transformation of riversides into pedestrian-only zones. ➡️ Introduction of the 15-minute city concept. ❌ What’s been restricted (earning accusations of “dictatorship”): ➡️ High-speed traffic in central Paris. ➡️ Older diesel vehicles. ➡️ Access for SUVs, with higher parking fees. ➡️ Removal of 70,000 parking spaces for cars within city limits. Paris has proven that real change is possible – and in a relatively short timeframe. It's not all sunshine and roses, the topic is VERY politicised in France, despite these huge wins. This progress was made possible because some had the courage to fight to reduce car usage in Paris. Urban transformation is not a smooth journey. It’s an ongoing project – sometimes uncomfortable, but absolutely necessary. Statistics from from Airparif, the national observatory for air quality in Île-de-France: https://buff.ly/3DGcCc1

🛟 The New European Accessibility Act (EAA) Is Here. Useful pointers for small and large companies to comply with a new EU directive ↓ ✅ EEA is a new EU directive to standardize accessibility. ✅ It mandates accessibility for most “essential” products. ✅ It includes digital products, banking, transport, eCommerce. ✅ Applies to all private companies globally that sell to EU customers. ✅ EEA doesn’t cite WCAG, but implies WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. 🤔 Grace period: 5 years for “unaltered” services/products. 🚫 Accessibility overlays aren’t accepted as-is under EAA. ✅ In B2C, companies providing a service must comply with EAA. ✅ B2B vendors → B2C companies must do their due diligence. ✅ B2C companies carry responsibility for compliance, not B2B. ✅ Review and update contracts with B2B partners to cover EAA. ✅ EU operations → your products must meet EAA’s requirements. ✅ Accessibility statements → incl. overview, mechanism for feedback. ✅ Must comply even if you don’t have a shop, but support (“service”). ✅ Exceptions: micro enterprises, <10 people, turnover < EUR 2 Mio. ⏰ The deadline to comply with EAA was 28 June 2025. As Craig Abbott wrote, the European Accessibility Act is probably one of the most ambitious directives in accessibility regulation. It’s extensive and universally applicable. It covers a lot of ground to help everyone get a better, more accessible digital experience. However, WCAG 2.1 AA isn’t the ultimate checklist. National laws and local regulations might complement EAA with additional requirements — e.g. localization, biometric systems etc. You must also provide an accessibility statement with an overview of compliance, mechanism for feedback, non-compliant elements and docs for accessibility efforts. We are yet to see how exactly the new directive will be enforced. But it’s the time for companies to launch accessibility efforts to explore just what exactly needs to be done to start improving accessibility. While on it, perhaps we could also run a round of accessibility testing with actual people. Automated tools are helpful, but accessibility isn’t a checklist, and compliance doesn’t guarantee a good experience. Bring in a wide range of users on board, and you’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll discover actual UX challenges that actual people experience every day. Useful resources: How To Get Started With EAA Compliance, by Marli Ritter 👍 https://lnkd.in/e2vfY93C European Accessibility Act: What You Need To Know, by Craig Abbott https://lnkd.in/ezu9Vyh9 How To Explain Accessibility To Stakeholders, by yours truly https://lnkd.in/eu6bzYBv WCAG In Plan English https://lnkd.in/eSJnNYs2 [continues in comments ↓] #ux #accessibility

How to get a Sanction Plan. The Sanction Plan Approval Process is a crucial step in obtaining the necessary permissions for constructing or renovating a building. Here's an overview of the process: Step 1: Preparation of Documents 1. Architectural drawings: Prepare detailed architectural drawings of the proposed building, including floor plans, elevations, and cross-sections. 2. Site plan: Prepare a site plan showing the location of the building, boundaries, and adjacent properties. 3. Structural drawings: Prepare structural drawings, including foundation plans, beam layouts, and column schedules. 4. Service drawings: Prepare drawings for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. Step 2: Submission of Documents 1. Submit documents to local authority: Submit the prepared documents to the local authority, such as the Municipal Corporation or Town Planning Department. 2. Pay applicable fees: Pay the applicable fees for plan approval, which vary depending on the location and type of project. Step 3: Review and Scrutiny 1. Review by local authority: The local authority reviews the submitted documents to ensure compliance with building codes, zoning regulations, and other applicable laws. 2. Scrutiny by technical experts: Technical experts, such as architects and engineers, scrutinize the plans to ensure that they meet the required standards. Step 4: Approval or Rejection 1. Approval: If the plans meet the required standards, the local authority issues a sanction plan approval. 2. Rejection: If the plans do not meet the required standards, the local authority rejects the proposal and provides feedback for revision. Step 5: Revision and Resubmission 1. Revise plans: If the proposal is rejected, revise the plans according to the feedback provided by the local authority. 2. Resubmit plans: Resubmit the revised plans to the local authority for re-examination. Step 6: Final Approval 1. Final approval: If the revised plans meet the required standards, the local authority issues a final sanction plan approval. 2. Commencement certificate: Obtain a commencement certificate from the local authority before starting construction.

Tigers 🐅 are rebounding in Thailand. July 29th is International Tiger Day, so here's some positive news for the big cat out of Thailand: Camera trapping data has revealed a steady recovery of tigers in the country's Western Forest Complex over the past two decades. The results were recently reported in a paper published in Global Ecology and Conservation. According to the paper, the tiger population grew on average by 4% per year in Hua Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, which has the highest population of the cat in Thailand. "At the beginning, we didn’t have much confidence that it would be possible [to recover tiger numbers], but we’ve been patient,” anak pattanavibool, study co-author and Thailand country director at the Wildlife Conservation Society, told Carolyn Cowan of Mongabay News. The tiger recovery has been mirrored by a simultaneous increase in the numbers of the tigers’ prey animals, such as sambar deer and types of wild cattle. Why are tigers bouncing back? Experts cite several factors: 🌳 Conservation efforts: Long-term conservation actions, including systematic ranger patrols to control poaching and efforts to boost tiger prey populations, have shown positive results. ⚖️ Law enforcement: The arrest and prosecution of several tiger-poaching gangs indicated that authorities were serious about addressing poaching. 🖥️ SMART Wildlife monitoring system: Thailand's implementation of the SMART (Spatial Monitoring And Reporting Tool) system has improved wildlife monitoring and antipoaching measures. 🍃 Investment: The Thai government invests significantly in conservation efforts, including protected areas. 🦌 Boosting prey populations: The recovery of prey species such as sambar deer, banteng, and muntjac deer within protected areas has supported the tiger population's growth. 📸 Camera trap surveys: Extensive use of camera traps has provided valuable data, documenting a steady increase in tiger numbers over the years. 🌿 Habitat Connectivity: Efforts to ensure extensive connected networks of safe forests facilitate tiger movement across landscapes, aiding genetic diversity and adaptability. The rebound in Thailand could help tigers recover in neighboring countries, says Anak. “Some NGOs set camera traps over the border in Myanmar, and they find some [tigers], but not in enough abundance to come into Thailand,” Anak told Cowan. “In reality, it will be the opposite situation, that tigers from here might be able to recover the tiger populations in Myanmar.” Worldwide, there are thought to be around 5,600 wild tigers, according to the Global Tiger Forum. 📰 Thai tiger numbers swell as prey populations stabilize in western forests https://lnkd.in/gbie9yXt 🔬 Duangchantrasiri at al 2024. https://lnkd.in/gXT8riyN

If your content isn’t doing as well as you wish it would, it’s probably because you’re focused on the wrong person…. You. The biggest mistake I see on social media is that many people use it like a megaphone instead of a mirror. They shout their news, their wins, their updates, but they never stop to think about what their audience actually needs or wants. If you want people to care about what you post, you have to make it about them. Here’s how to do that more consistently: ✅ Speak to a pain point: Instead of posting “I was promoted,” say A lot of people ask how to stand out and get promoted faster. Here’s what helped me the most. ✅ Be useful: Share what you wish you knew sooner, what others ask you about, or what you’re learning in real time. That’s the stuff people bookmark and come back to. ✅ Lead with the takeaway: Don’t bury the value under three paragraphs of background. Start with the point. Hook them early. ✅ Be generous with what you know: If you learned something the hard way, say so. If someone else taught you something, give them credit. This builds trust and it travels farther. ✅ Stop announcing: You’re not a PR firm. You don’t need to “announce” every event or accomplishment. Talk about what it means and why it matters. ✅ Talk like a human: Banish the corporate speak. If you wouldn’t say it out loud to a colleague, don’t write it in a post. ✅ Earn attention: We are never entitled to engagement. If people are scrolling past your content, ask why. And then fix it. You can still share your story. Just make sure it actually connects with the people reading it. Which of these do you need to start doing? #PersonalBranding #LinkedInTips #LegalMarketing

🧮 Coordinated policy + science-based strategy = meaningful impact for the planet. Beijing’s air quality transformation is a powerful case study. A city once infamous for its smog has turned things around in a big way. Since 2013: • PM2.5 pollution has fallen by 64% • Nitrogen dioxide levels cut by 54% • Sulphur dioxide dropped by 89% • “Good air days” went from 13 in 2013 to 300+ in 2023 📈 All the while, the city has continue to grow its GDP by an average of 6.8% a year. So, what’s the secret? Experts say it's the coordinated approach they took: 👉 1,500 air-quality sensors across the city 👉 Stricter controls on coal-fired power plants 👉 Older, more-polluting vehicles phased out 👉 Public transport scaled up It’s proof that strong policy, a clear plan, science-driven insights, and bold leadership make for a winning formula. It's not the end of the road by any stretch—Beijing's pollution is still six times higher than WHO guidelines. But it’s a reminder: meaningful impact *is* possible. _____ ➕ Follow Abbie Morris for posts about sustainability, policy, and startups. 📧 Drop me a DM if you want to learn more about tackling the mountain of sustainability regulation facing the retail industry.

🛍️ B2C Social Media Strategies: Connecting with Consumers In the fast-paced world of B2C marketing, social media is a dynamic playground for connecting with consumers. Here's a comprehensive guide on effective B2C social media strategies to foster meaningful connections and drive engagement across popular platforms. **1. Visual Content Dominance: B2C audiences are highly visual. Invest in captivating visuals, including images, graphics, and videos, to make your brand stand out. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok thrive on visually appealing content. **2. Storytelling Excellence: Craft compelling brand stories. Share narratives that resonate with emotions and experiences. Use platforms like Facebook and Instagram Stories for ephemeral content that creates a sense of urgency. **3. User-Generated Content (UGC): Encourage your customers to create content related to your brand. UGC not only provides authentic promotion but also strengthens the sense of community. Feature UGC prominently on platforms like Instagram. **4. Social Commerce Integration: Leverage the power of social commerce. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer seamless integration for shopping directly within the app. Make the purchasing process easy and enjoyable for consumers. **5. Influencer Collaborations: Partner with influencers who align with your brand. Influencers can bring authenticity and credibility, especially on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Choose influencers whose audience matches your target demographic. **6. Engaging Polls and Surveys: Foster two-way communication by using polls and surveys. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter allow you to gather insights from your audience, making them feel involved and valued. **7. Live Streaming Events: Host live streaming events to connect with your audience in real-time. Platforms like Facebook Live and Instagram Live enable direct interactions, Q&A sessions, and product demonstrations. **8. Strategic Hashtag Usage: Create and use branded hashtags to enhance discoverability. Utilize trending and popular hashtags on platforms like Twitter and TikTok to broaden your reach and join relevant conversations. By implementing these B2C social media strategies, you can not only connect with consumers on a personal level but also build a loyal community around your brand. 🌐📱 #B2CSocialMedia #SocialMediaStrategies #ConsumerConnection

Managing Industrial Noise: Causes & Safety Precautions 🔊⚠️ Noise pollution is a significant hazard in many industries, affecting workers' health and efficiency. Prolonged exposure to high noise levels can lead to hearing loss, stress, reduced concentration, and communication difficulties, increasing the risk of workplace accidents. Causes of Industrial Noise: 🔹 Machinery & Equipment: Heavy-duty machines, compressors, and turbines. 🔹 Impact Processes: Metal cutting, hammering, and welding. 🔹 High-Speed Operations: Fans, conveyors, and ventilation systems. 🔹 Vehicle & Traffic Noise: Forklifts, trucks, and transport equipment. 🔹 Explosions & Pneumatic Systems: High-pressure air tools and blasting. Noise Control Measures – Applying the 5 Stages of Risk Management 1️⃣ Elimination 🚫 ✔️ Replace noisy processes with quieter alternatives. ✔️ Shift from mechanical to hydraulic or electric systems where possible. 2️⃣ Substitution 🔄 ✔️ Use low-noise machinery and tools. ✔️ Replace impact processes with vibration-dampened alternatives. 3️⃣ Engineering Controls 🏗️ ✔️ Install sound barriers, acoustic enclosures, or silencers. ✔️ Maintain and lubricate machinery to reduce friction noise. ✔️ Use damping materials to absorb vibrations. 4️⃣ Administrative Controls 📋 ✔️ Implement job rotation to limit noise exposure duration. ✔️ Establish quiet zones for workers’ recovery. ✔️ Conduct regular hearing checks and provide noise awareness training. 5️⃣ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 🎧 ✔️ Provide earplugs or noise-canceling earmuffs to workers. ✔️ Ensure PPE fits properly and is used consistently in high-noise areas. Conclusion Industrial noise is a serious but manageable risk. By following the hierarchy of control measures, companies can minimize exposure, protect workers' health, and create a safer work environment. Prioritizing elimination and engineering solutions over reliance on PPE ensures long-term safety and compliance. 🔊 How does your workplace manage noise hazards? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #WorkplaceSafety #IndustrialNoise #HearingProtection #RiskManagement #NoiseControl #SafeWorkEnvironment